546 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



Wilson's "Voyage" also, mention is made of a snowy owl 

 seen by one of his party on this same island in the month 

 of August. 



8. Eedbacked Shrike {Lctnius collnrio). — One instance of 

 this bird's nesting in Shetland is recorded : Saxby found a 

 family of three young birds on 9th June 1870 at Burrafirth, 

 ill Unst. 



9. Blackbird {Turclus Jiicrula) is reported to have bred in 

 the vicinity of Lerwick, but there seems to be no authentic 

 record of the fact. 



10. Wheatear (Sccxicola cenaiithe), (Steinkle). — This is the 

 most generally diffused of the land birds of Shetland. It is 

 very common, and its sprightly notes may be heard during 

 May and June all day long, and also throughout what would 

 be night in more southern lands. The nest is placed in a 

 hole in some peat bank, or in the interstices of the rocks, and 

 is so cunningly concealed that it is rather difficult to find. 

 Tlie bird, too, seems to feel the turf shaking at a consider- 

 able distance off, and steals away from the nest before the 

 intruder comes close upon it. All the nests I found were 

 made of roots and grasses, and lined with a great mass of 

 gulls' feathers. 



11. Meadow pipit (Anthus jjratensis), (Hill Sparrow, 

 Titlark). — This is another of the commonest of Shetland 

 birds, though in some places outnumbered by the next 

 species. 



12. Eock pipit {Anthus ohscurus), (Tang Sparrow, Titlark). 

 — The rock pipit is abundant all round the islands, and I 

 generally found it breeding on the precipices facing the sea ; 

 while the meadow pipit preferred the drier parts of marshes 

 and heathery inland ground. From the situations chosen for 

 building by the rock pipit, its nests are usually difficult of 

 access. 



13. Lark (Alauda arvensis), (Laverock). — The " Bird of the 

 Wilderness " is quite at home amid the ruggedest scenery of 

 these wave-beaten isles. It is by far the best songster they 

 possess, and its sweet notes may be heard during the month 

 of June at any hour of the twenty-four. 



14. Snow Bunting {Plcctrophcmcs nivalis), (Snaw Foul). — 



